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Our Staff

Family Care Associates' staff is committed to friendly service, compassionate care, and our patient's satisfaction. We are your personal "care-team" working closely with you, and your medical provider, to coordinate your care based on your personal needs. From check-in to check-out, whether in the office or at home, we are here for you because at Family Care, you are more than a patient, you are family.

Janice Westendorf, CMOM, Practice Administrator

Janice Westendorf, Certified Medical Office Manager, currently serves as the Practice Administrator for Family Care Associates. Janice is a native of Dieterich, Illinois and has served Family Care Associates for over 25 years. As Practice Administrator, she is responsible for overseeing all departments.

Janice received her Associate’s degree at Lake Land College in 1986. She earned certification as a Certified Medical Office Manager in 2004 from the Practice Management Institute. As a key staff member, she worked with the management team to gain our most recent Certification of Recognition as a Patient Centered Medical Home through the National Committee for Quality Assurance. She is a member of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, the Illinois Rural Health Association, Medical Group Management Associates (MGMA) and the Illinois Medical Group Management Association.

Taryn Rohr, RN, Clinical Manager

Taryn Rohr, Registered Nurse, serves as the Clinical Manager for Family Care Associates. Taryn is a native of Effingham County and joined Family Care in 2007 as a Medical Assistant while obtaining her Bachelors in Nursing Degree at Southeast Missouri State University. She rejoined our nursing staff in 2008 as a Registered Nurse. In 2012 she began serving as the Nursing Supervisor before transitioning into the role of Clinical Manager in 2013. Having fulfilled many roles within Family Care, Taryn utilizes her skills and experience to effectively manage all clinical functions and processes within Family Care.

Taryn is a member of the Illinois Rural Health Association.

Wendy Faulkner, Business Office Supervisor

Wendy Faulkner has worked at Family Care Associates for over 20 years and currently serves as the Business Office Supervisor. In addition to managing the Insurance and Billing department, she oversees internal accounting and financials, maintains Medicare and Medicaid enrollment, participates in Rural Health activities, and regularly attends conferences and webinars to stay current on healthcare industry changes. Wendy is also the Administrative Assistant to the Practice Administrator.

Wendy is originally from Virginia, but has called Illinois her home for over 27 years.

Trista Hopper, CCMA, Medical Assistant Supervisor

Trista Hopper, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, has worked at Family Care Associates for nearly ten years. She spent several years assisting Dr.Thomas Heischmidt before assuming her current role as Medical Assistant Supervisor. In addition to this role, Trista oversees computer and software training, and specializes in the development and personalization of our electronic medical record (EMR) system to meet the needs of our practice and our patients.

Trista spent a total of five years studying patient care and physical health at both Vincennes University and Indiana State University. She is originally from Iowa but has called Effingham home for nearly 18 years.

Jennifer Logue, RN, Nursing and Office Supervisor

Jen Logue, RN, currently serves as the Nursing and Office Supervisor. She began working at Family Care as a staff nurse in 2010. In 2012, Jen assumed the role of the Medical Assistant Supervisor before transitioning into her current role in 2013. Jen works closely to ensure that patient care is of the highest quality while also coordinating care with other providers and facilities.

In addition, Jen manages the clinic’s social media sites.

Jen is a native of Brownstown, IL and obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing from Kaskaskia College in 2004.

Front Office

The Front Office Department consists of patient registration, scheduling, and medical records. The staff in this department perform a variety of clerical duties and are committed to quality service for every patient and family we serve. They welcome and assist our patients and guests, buildling relationships that support patient-centered healthcare. To contact someone in this department, dial 217-342-7000 and choose Option 1 for scheduling, or press 0 for medical records. Non-urgent requests can also be sent via Patient Portal.

Insurance and Billing

The Insurance and Billing department is responsible for patient accounts. To manage accounts effectively, this department works to verify and bill insurance companies, post payments and follow up on insurance claim denials, send patient statments, and manage accounts receivable. The department consists of two AAPC Certified Professional Coders, two insurance clerks, and one credit counselor. To contact someone in this department, please call 217-342-7000 and choose Option 5 from the automated menu.

Nursing

The nursing department at Family Care Associates is committed to compassionate, attentive care. Our nurses offer our patients advice and education over the phone and through Patient Portal. Additionally, they offer various procedures and services including, but not limited to, well child and adult vaccinations, routine injections, and wound dressings. To contact the nursing department, call us at 217-342-7000 and choose Option 2 from our automated phone system. You may also send non-urgent questions and request via Patient Portal.

Medical Assistants

The Medical Assistants at Family Care Associates work closely with both our healthcare providers and patients to coordinate care, review health histories, reconcile medications, assist with medical procedures, and ensure the accuracy of clinical data entered into the electronic medical record (EMR). The majority of Medical Assistants at Family Care Associates have earned their CCMA credentials (new hires are eligible to earn their credentials after one year of service). As Certified Clinical Medical Assistants working closely with each of our medical providers, every patient and family is guaranteed a medical team focused on personal, high quality health care.